Sitting down this week with Congaloid boss Stefano Ritteri, we’re treated to an exclusive cut from his upcoming release as conversation touches on what has been an eventdul year for the UK-based artist as long with the rise bandcamp, the definition of “underground” and the developments at his imprint.
WWD: Thanks for taking the time out to chat Stefano. What’s your week been like so far?
Ciao! This week has been very good, right now I am writing you from Bali, where I have played a show at the W hotel and used their studio to record some percussions I have bought here on the island . Actually I have bought a LOT of percussions, I have no idea how I am gonna take them back with me in London!
WWD: As an artist your sound has developed majorly from the early days and your time as the previous Solo moniker. Talk us through that journey and where you find yourself today?
Changing my music style and find constantly new directions is the method for me to stay interested and have fun . I couldn’t imagine a painter drawing the same thing over and over, and even tho I mostly work with the constraints and boundaries of “ dance music” , I look for different approaches .
I have become very bored by the “usual” house and techno sound , nothing wrong with it, some great producers and djs are killing it , but to me we have heard enough songs with 909 drums and a big diva vocal , so for my own sets and songs I look for something that is not there just yet .
WWD: In your eyes, what does the word “underground” convey?
sometimes just a bit of pretentiousness , sometimes an honest desire that some producers and dj have to differentiate themselves from shit music that gets constantly thrown at us by media and radio . Most of the times is a good excuse to be lazy and wear black-only clothes thinking that is “deep and revolutionary” .
WWD: We can’t get enough of ‘Your Playground is the Sun’ and “ The Pretty Ghost” When you were finishing the tracks off in the studio, what vision was in your head?
Thank you! “ Your playground is the sun “ is one of those cases of “ I got a new instrument and gotta jam with it”! . I had just received a new synthesiser from the good guys at Korg, and I was super excited to try it .It’s a very inspiring instrument so after just a few hours the song was done and I tried it the next day in a club, the reaction was super good. And this is why I always need new studio toys!! And “ The Pretty Ghost” is a long jam of all my synths and machines going together. I have recorded them in one go , no edits , twisting knobs while dancing half naked , nd I believe you can hear this in the song!
WWD: What else music wise have you been working on recently?
I have finished 4 new songs of mine but I also worked on some soundtracks for Tv shows and advertising . It’s a completely different world, very challenging, but very refreshing cause I get to work with musicians and orchestras and sometimes record actors voiceovers . The highlights so far were the music for the football premier League shows and the Fifa 2017 game!
WWD: What developments are you overseeing at your label Congaloid right now?
Congaloid was born a few years ago but I didn’t have lots of time to develop it, because at the time I wanted to push my name thru several labels that I loved and that gave me visibility . Now , with a new label management and a great promo team, I am very proud and ready to release a lot of my music and songs from artists I love , and it’s a great feeling to have the freedom and completely open artistic direction.
WWD: Bandcamp is becoming an integral part of your distribution. What benefits does it bring to the operation and what influenced the decision to start using it?
Bandcamp is great because it gives artists and label full freedom to put out their music whenever they want and deal directly with fans. Big websites like Beatport and Traxsource have been flooded with thousands and thousands of releases and mediocre music, so it became hard to be noticed or get some visibility unless one pays for it. I like the fact that we can chose to give away tracks , for example for this Ep we will give “your playground is the sun” for free to the first 100 people that will buy “ The pretty ghost” , it’s very nice to have a direct relationship with the music lovers that support our label.
WWD: 2016 has been a bad year for the loss of musical influencers – Prince, Bowie and now Leonard Cohen. Who do you think are the present day artists who will be seen in similar light in 30 years’ time? If any…
It’s hard to tell, because to be honest I mostly listen to music made some years ago, I am old school that way! Of course there are some great artists out there, Pharrell Williams is a great inspiration to me , but I sincerely ignore most of the pop idols of today,and I intend to continue 🙂
WWD: What are the most important thing you’ve learned as a human being in recent times?
Left or Right is irrelevant, follow the curved Road .
What would make 2017 a good year for you?
Possibly staying alive
The Pretty Ghost / Your Playground Is The Sun is available here: https://congaloid.bandcamp.com/track/the-pretty-ghost
Follow: Stefano Ritteri // Congaloid